Syracuse shined on the defensive side of the ball in its 33-25 win over California on Saturday, forcing two interceptions and collecting four sacks.
It was the bounce-back performance many Orange fans and head coach Fran Brown wanted after Syracuse’s disappointing 37-31 loss to Boston College last week, where the defense allowed 331 rushing yards to its opponent’s running backs.
The Golden Bears did score two rushing touchdowns against the Orange while racking up 166 rushing yards, including a 75-yard score from running back Jaivian Thomas early in the second quarter. Still, Syracuse stifled California at the beginning of the game and did enough throughout the game for the win.
The game script that the Orange followed is one it’ll have to stick to against UConn, as Syracuse limited the Golden Bears through the air. Cal’s top receiver, Jonathan Brady, had a modest day with 6 catches for 54 yards. Especially with Huskies quarterback Nick Evers questionable to play, the Orange secondary will have to be aggressive against UConn’s passing game.
Linebacker Marlowe Wax and defensive lineman Fadil Diggs were responsible for half of Syracuse’s sacks against Cal, and they had a combined three tackles for a loss, hurrying Golden Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza on plenty of his throws. If Evers does suit up, Wax and Diggs will look to do the same against him.
While limiting the passing game will be important, Syracuse’s main focus on defense should be stopping the run. It will face a UConn run game that is currently 35th in the country with 200 rushing yards per contest and has racked up 460 rushing yards over its last two games. That won’t be an easy task, but the defensive line for the Orange looked better in the win over Cal than it did earlier in the season.
If Syracuse can replicate its defensive effort against the Golden Bears and limit the passing game while getting the ball back in quarterback Kyle McCord’s hands quickly, it should be able to take down the Huskies for its eighth win of the season.
